Mercenaries to be hired by the UN in Iraq, by the man who re-signed Blackwater for the US

I came across this while reading the DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Very refreshing to see a journalist posing some tough questions.

Question: Two sets of questions: mercenaries and nepotism. On mercenaries, can you confirm that the UN in Iraq is signing an agreement with a private military contractor called Aegis that’s been accused of killing civilians, and also, that Mr. [Gregory B.] Starr, the new head of the DSS [Department of Safety and Security], was the official responsible for extending the contract with Blackwater while he was with the United States State Department?

Deputy Spokesperson: I have nothing on either one of those, so we’d have to look into that for you.

Question: But, I mean, does the UN in Iraq use private military contractors –- that’s my…?

Deputy Spokesperson: I have to look into that for you.

Lets have a look at this, DSS Department of Safety and Security:

Welcome to DSS

The Department of Safety and Security is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

Aegis: Security

AEGIS is a fast-growing company that provides strategic support to governments and the commercial sector in the specialist niche of security and intelligence related services with particular emphasis upon designing and implementing solutions related to international terrorism, security force capability and complex geopolitical issues.

They don't have this on their website though, oddly!



Now, the new man in charge, who supposedly was responsible with the US love affair with Blackwater:

On 6 May 2009, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Gregory B. Starr of the United States of America as Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, succeeding David Veness.

Yeah, great guy, except for this:

State Department to Renew Deal With Blackwater for Iraq Security

The State Department said yesterday that it would renew its contract with Blackwater Worldwide, the controversial private security contractor, to provide security for U.S. diplomats in Baghdad for another year, but said it could cancel it at any time.

Blackwater has a five-year contract with the State Department to provide diplomatic security. The contract, which has one base year plus four option years, is entering its fourth year, an official at the State Department said.

The company, based in Moyock, N.C., is under investigation by the FBI in connection with a Sept. 16 incident in which its security personnel shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. Questions have been raised about whether the shootings were justified and if they violated the rules under which contractors may use deadly force in Iraq.

And guess who was at the helm when they decided to resign?

Gregory B. Starr, the acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, said the pending investigation could change the deal with Blackwater.

Will wait for this to come out in the MSM soon, I don't know who the guy asking the questions at the briefing was.

Why would the UN need to employ private security, or 'mercenaries'? I mean they have their own security surely, and UN troops, and given the trigger happy nature of these private security firms, would this be a good idea?




[edit on 14-8-2009 by kiwifoot]

Good video but i see in each shooting a car or truck chasing them. The fact that the music never skips with each frame change makes the whole evil trigger happy men seem set up, like the whole video was pieced together to show something more sinister then what was going on. unless there is more video that im not seeing.

Thanks for the info.

I posted a thread about Blackwater a while ago with two very interesting videos in it.
You can check it out here.

reply to post by speeddr2000


I wouldn't read too much into the music, but there have been a lot of accusations against these security firms.

Just a quick google:

Security firms 'abusing Iraqis'

Private security firms operating in Iraq are committing human rights abuses, a charity has claimed.

A report by War on Want says no prosecutions have been brought despite hundreds of complaints of abuse.

And the charity is calling on the government to introduce legislation to ban private security in war zones.

Lt Col Tim Spicer, whose Aegis security firm operates in Iraq, said they worked under "very strict rules" and could be prosecuted if they did anything wrong.

And the conduct of Blackater in Iraq is well documented.

But as you say, the video (an oldy) may be a little dodgy, however the footage cleary shows Iraqis being shot up by these guys.

kiwi

[edit on 14-8-2009 by kiwifoot]